White subgiant · Virgo

Zaniah

Also known as: η Virginis (η Vir), HIP 60129

mag 3.9270 light-years

About

Zaniah (η Virginis) is a white subgiant of magnitude 3.9 in Virgo, about 270 light-years away.

Zaniah is in the constellation Virgo.
Best evenings: around mid-May it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from south of 79° N.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesVisible from the suburbs on a clear night, but lost in bright city skies.
Binoculars (10×50)A sharp point; binoculars bring out its colour and the fainter stars around it.
Telescope (6–8 inch)Still a point of light at any magnification — stars are too far away to show a disc. Low in the sky, bright stars twinkle and flash colours.

Stars look the same in any instrument: brighter and sharper, but never bigger.

Proper name	Zaniah
Designation	η Virginis (η Vir)
Hipparcos number	HIP 60129
Type	White subgiant
Spectral type	A2IV
Colour	WhiteB−V colour index 0.03
Magnitude	3.9The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	270 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1760.
Proper motion	0.063″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Virgo
Right ascension (J2000)	12h 19m 54.4s
Declination (J2000)	−00° 40′ 00″